Episode 15 - Step by Stage! ~ I Can't Believe I'm the Leader of a Dance Circle! ~...

Episode 15: "A Herald of Final Rehearsal and the Beginning of Slapstick."

1. countdown to the festival, 10 days left

　Walking around the university campus after morning homerooms, one sees countdown posters posted all over the place. They read, "Only 10 days left until the festival!" Whenever I see the vivid letters "**", I, **Koharu SakuraiThe hearts of the "Mere Old Man" are filled with excitement and frustration at the same time.
　We only have 10 more days. ......
　He muttered to himself and faced the members of the circle. I made a partial return to the rock part of the show.Makoto Sato** is wearing an ankle supporter and looks excited. **Shizuku Miyata** is as cool as ever as she prepares for the competition, while **Sho Ohtani** and the novice group are light on their feet as they make their way to the practice room.
　However, I have a feeling that more trouble is lurking as we get closer to full-scale stage rehearsals - I can't help but have a feeling that this is the case.

2. notice before the last rehearsal, too short time limit

　When I entered the circle room, I just saw the seniorRika Aoyamabrought a note saying, "I received a call from the executive committee. It contained a detailed schedule of stage rehearsals.
　I heard that two afternoons before the show, they'll give us 15 minutes on stage to rehearse. If we do well, we might be able to dance once through ......"
　Mayu and Shizuku looked at the note and said, "Fifteen minutes?　Our medley is almost 10 minutes long, so it's almost a one-shot show if you include the changes and comings and goings. ......" They exclaimed, "Oh no, there's no time for a sound check. Sho also turned pale, "Oh no, we don't have time to do a sound check. Sho also turned pale.

　The senior laughs and shrugs. The other groups are in the same situation," she said. Rehearsals are supposed to be "just to go through the performances in the order they appear. We don't have a lot of backstage staff. ......
　Now, if this happens, the short sound check on the day of the show will be the lifeline. As the leader of the group, I too had no choice but to be prepared.
For now, let's just get it to 100% perfection now for the rehearsal two days before the show. We don't have time to fix things at rehearsal!"
　Everyone said in unison, "Yes!" and spirits lifted. The last-minute battle continues.

3. surprise of unexpected visitors and alumni appearances

　After school that day, as we were about to begin general practice, there was a knock at the door of the circle room. When I opened it, there was an unfamiliar, mature man - apparently in a suit.
Well, hello. You are in a dance club, right?　I graduated last year.sloping mouthI'm from ......"
　The members of the group were buzzing; there must have been no prior notice that an alumnus would be coming. Mr. Sakaguchi said, "I used to show up at the dance club a little bit when I was in school," and he dropped by during a break from work.

　Rika, a senior member of the group, says, "Oh, I'm pretty sure you were a member of the previous generation!" she shouted as if recalling. Apparently, she practiced with the seniors for a while but soon became busy with part-time jobs and job hunting and graduated without being very deeply involved.
I've been thinking about going to the school festival this year for a while. Do you mind if I watch you practice?"
　We were told that although they were not that familiar with the dance, they were looking forward to seeing us as an audience. We were perplexed, but decided to take them up on their kind offer.

4. rock part performance, an unexpected word sticks in the chest

　While welcoming Mr. Sakaguchi's visit, practice started as usual. This timethree-person teamThe first thing to do was to show the rock part of theyaoqin (4-stringed Chinese lute)interpoint (interword separation)flightinterpoint (interword separation)Saki NakamuraThe three members of the group take turns at the center, and the final appeal is made by all three of them.
　The music comes on and the movements of the three color the studio. Makoto's presence is one of the best, even if he is not yet pushing himself too hard. Sho mixes comicality and masculinity well, while Saki, despite being a beginner, expresses the power of rock with a serious expression on her face. The result is a reflection of the hard work that has been put in over the past few weeks.

　When the dance was over, applause echoed through the studio. Mr. Sakaguchi roared, "Wow, ...... is so powerful! he roared. While the members were rejoicing, he suddenly opened his mouth, "But .......
'Makoto, I think you could go a little further with your moves. I feel like you used to be more explosive. ......"
　Makoto's expression stiffens at this casual remark. It's no wonder, since her ankle injury originally prevented her from performing at her peak. But when someone from the outside points this out, it probably makes her heart ache.

　Mr. Sakaguchi seemed to take no offense and said, "No, I'm kind of sorry. I'm just speaking from an amateur's point of view," he followed up. However, I could see a slight depression in Makoto's eyes. As the leader, I tried to mend the situation by saying, "Don't worry about it, Makoto is just coming off an injury," but I couldn't find the right words to say.

5. makoto's conflict and shizuku's words

　That night, on the way home after practice. Shizuku and I were talking with Makoto, who was limping, as we walked him home.
Hey, Makoto, do you mind what OB said earlier?"
　When I fearfully asked, Makoto laughed.
I'll be honest with you. Well, I know it myself. It's frustrating that I can't move as fast as I used to. I'm frustrated with myself for thinking, "If only I wasn't injured, I'd be ......."

　Shizuku, who was listening next to me, said, "But the dance you just did was powerful enough. It had a different personality from Sho and Saki, and was very attractive," he followed up.
I was like, "Yeah, thanks for the ....... But I still feel that I could have done more. Well, there are only 10 days left until the show, so I'll just have to do the best I can.
　Makoto's eyes were wavering but determined. I could only watch and say, "We know Makoto is working hard, and don't just take it easy.

6. clothing trouble occurred, K-POP part screams

　The next evening, the circle line was in an uproar.Mayu SuzukiAccording to a post from the "K-Pop" section, "The hair ornament and socks that were prepared for the K-Pop part were out of stock, much to the manufacturer's dismay.

Mayu: I tried to order more, but it seems they are no longer being produced ......! What should I do, we were all trying to get the same color.
Shizuku: We'll just have to look for alternative items.
Sho: Finally some clothing trouble here: ......

　I and other girls in the beginner group hurriedly looked on the Internet and searched stores around the university, but we could not find the same design. As a result, we had to resort to the bitter pill of "substituting accessories of similar color with another manufacturer.
Well, if it's a small difference, it might not be that noticeable ...... on stage?"
　We all argue with each other to convince ourselves and manage to finalize a plan to deal with the situation. I had heard that a lot of things go out of stock right before the festival, but I had no idea that this would really happen. ......

7. is leader Koharu's mental health on the verge of breaking point?

　The problems came one after another. Rock part conflicts, lack of sound rehearsals, lack of costumes...... I was so exhausted that I was cowering at home at night, busy dealing with the situation as a leader.
"Huh ...... why all this trouble ......"
　As I sit at my laptop, checking tomorrow's practice schedule and tasks, my eyes suddenly glaze over. Perhaps it is because I have been unable to sleep, but my body seems to be screaming.
　But I can't collapse here. "Step by stage, step by step," I told myself, and managed to keep my spirits up.

　Looking at my phone, I see Saki from the beginner group saying, "I'm going to train on my own again tomorrow!" and Makoto reported, "My leg hurts a little, but I think it's getting better. When I think that everyone is doing their best, I feel bad that I am the only one who is feeling weak.
"Almost there. ...... Hang in there, me."
　He mumbled softly and drifted off to sleep.

8. a "provisional" sound test with the stage crew.

　One week before the festival, Sho, Rika, and I went to the equipment room on campus with the sound source for the circle's dance medley. We were told that there was a possibility of a "short test behind the stage," as previously discussed, but in the end it was just to "lightly connect the equipment and check the volume.
　However, by the time we arrived on the day of the test, there were more staff members and equipment had been rearranged, and things seemed to be in a flurry of activity. By the time we arrived, they apologized and said, "Sorry, equipment trouble made today's test difficult. ......
Oh, I see. ......"
　I slumped my shoulders and Sho nodded in disappointment. I was filled with the thought that I had come all this way, but it was a waste of time. Rika's face was bitter as well.

　In the end, we were only able to check in the equipment room to see if there were any problems with the format of the sound file. The staff seemed to be very busy, so we were not able to ask them any in-depth questions.
"It's really going to be a one-shot deal. ......"
　On the way home, Sho murmured and I bit my lip in a small way.

9. still, we have a team

　The next day, when I reported on the situation in the circle's practice room, voices of anxiety were still raised from all over the place. What would happen to the sound, would the costumes be ready, how far would Makoto's ankle recover--the questions were piling up.
　But then someone said, "But we've built this medley up to this point, there's no way we can fail! followed by "Yes, yes, we have no choice but to do it now! and they followed with, "Yes, yes, we have to do it! One of the beginners said, "We've practiced so hard, we'll be fine! Some of the beginners said, "We've practiced so much, we'll be fine!
　The positive atmosphere of "I have no choice but to do it" helped me to relax my tired mind a little.

　As a leader, I call on my entire team.
We will be able to get through this if we all support each other. I don't know what will happen on the day, but our dance has been built up from the training camp to this point, and I'm sure the audience will understand!
　Makoto, Shizuku, Sho, Mayu, and the novice group all said, "Oh! they shouted in unison. At that moment, my heart was filled with warm energy.

epilogue

　Thus, as the final rehearsal for the festival looms, the circle is in a constant state of slapstick. The rock part, led by Makoto, who has partially recovered from an ankle injury, has been polished by the three members, and the other parts have also become more complete. The three members of the circle managed to overcome a minor wardrobe malfunction, and the sound check was done almost entirely on the day of the performance.
　Although there is no end to my anxiety, the unity of the team is stronger than ever. The attitude of everyone sharing their failures and frustrations and trying to overcome them is the most powerful thing for me.

　Only a few days left until the festival.
　Next comes the stage rehearsal two days before the performance - how close can we get to the performance with only 15 minutes to spare? In the midst of the mix of slapstick and adolescence, "Step by Stage" was finally reaching its climax. As the leader, I renewed my determination to keep going without giving up until the very end.